Annika Ruben

B.S. Environmental Studies from The University of Vermont

Annika is originally from Boston, MA but most recently has been living in the magical desert of northern New Mexico. After graduating high school Annika spent a semester with Dragons
exploring the mountains, rainforests, and cities of Peru and Bolivia. After seeing firsthand the impact of climate change on different communities’ livelihoods, she decided to commit to
working towards a more just future, leading her to focus her studies on Environmental Design at The University of Vermont.

While in college, Annika was able to nurture her passion for all things outdoors, most specifically backcountry skiing, backpacking, and farming. While living in Vermont she worked
for a migrant justice organization and explored her passions for sustainable agriculture, winemaking, and learning new languages. A semester abroad in Nepal allowed Annika to learn
Nepali and conduct research on women and climate-smart agriculture.

After graduating from UVM, Annika moved to the Southwest USA where she has been working as an experiential educator in various settings. She has worked at the United World College as an outdoor educator, instructed adaptive ski lessons in the snowy peaks of Taos, and led several summer, semester, and partnership courses for Dragons in Peru, Bolivia, and the Southwest. Through her work, she continues to see the power of place-based experiential education. Annika is now thrilled to be working with Dragons in a new capacity as an Outreach & Recruitment Associate.

Annika is WFR certified, a dancer, and a lover of all things lavender.